Photo: X/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals downed the Detroit Red Wings, 4-3, Thursday night at Capital One Arena in the Capitals second game of the 2023 preseason. The Capitals are now 1-0-1 in the preseason.
LINEUP
Charlie Lindgren got the start in goal for the Capitals. Alex Lyon got the start between the pipes for the visiting Red Wings. The Capitals forward lines and defensive pairs for the second preseason game:
Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – Ivan Miroshnichenko
Connor McMichael – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Tom Wilson
Joe Snively – Nic Dowd – T.J. Oshie
Andrew Cristall – Mike Sgarbossa – Pierrick Dube
Rasmus Sandin – John Carlson
Hardy Haman Aktell – Alex Alexeyev
Lucas Johansen – Vincent Iorio
Charles Lindgren
Hunter Shepard
FIRST PERIOD
There was no scoring in the first period. It was a low-event period with just 22 total shot attempts at five-on-five. Detroit lead in xGF .37 to .10.
SECOND PERIOD
The Red Wings popped the top on the scoring with a goal from former Capital Daniel Sprong at 3:35 of the middle frame.
#ALLCAPS 0-1 Sprong scores, we missed out on him pic.twitter.com/eieGXRV2qf
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) September 29, 2023
The Capitals quickly responded with a goal from Nicklas Backstrom at 7:38 of the period. Alex Ovechkin and Ivan Miroshnichenko had the helpers.
819 (pre)SZN pic.twitter.com/67fiZlLoV6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 29, 2023
The Capitals took their first lead of the night with a goal from Tom Wilson at 12:31 of the period. Evgeny Kuznetsov won the faceoff and setup Wilson for the score. Kuznetsov had the only assist.
goal scorer™️ pic.twitter.com/yc2DmMBcjm
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 29, 2023
That was it for the second period. The Capitals dominated the period, leading in 5v5 shot attempts, 20-9, and xGF 1.47 to .46.
THIRD PERIOD
Sebastian Cossa took over in goal for the Red Wings to start the third period.
The Capitals took a 3-1 with a power play goal from Rasmus Sandin at 7:10 of the final frame. Andrew Cristall and Tom Wilson had the helpers.
#ALLCAPS 3-1. SANDIN SHOOTS AND MAYBE SCORES, it mightve went off wilson pic.twitter.com/q6kxvs9umk
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) September 29, 2023
The Capitals stretched the lead to 4-1 with a goal from John Carlson at 16:11 of the third period.
Carly and Miro link up for the score pic.twitter.com/SF4J3XOGu5
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 29, 2023
The Red Wings closed the gap 45 seconds later with a goal from Robbie Fabbri to make it 4-2. Fabri added another at 6-on-5 to make it 4-3 with 1:13 left in regulation. That would be the final.
The Capitals are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Detroit to face the Red Wings.
Great game
I don’t like the late two goals, two reminiscent of last year. But yes, a step in the right direction.
agree—Caps once again aren’t locking teams down. of course, it’s pre-season, but still, they shouldn’t be letting in two quick goals in the final minutes
Let’s see ….
Backstrom was dealing and was one of the best players on the ice
Lindgren made a bunch of stellar saves early in the game
Ovechkin, Oshie, Wilson and Carlson were all good and looked like they usually do
38 Sandin was excellent, but it was Big Number Four Aktell who looked REALLY impressive. Some great outlet passes, several crunching hits. He just looks like a Top-Four NHL defenseman. Would be delighted to see him and Alexeyev on the starting roster. But #2 Iorio played well too! Carburetor and Assistants and GM will have some hard decisions.
Miroshnichenko was EFFECTIVE! He looks ready for at least an AHL starting job. Could make the team much like Lapierre did a few years back. And Miro HIT people! And made several skillful assists. Mahoney’s boys picked a winner
Power Play was MOVING and GROOVING and looks light years better than last year
The Caps overall looked really sharp and dominated large stretches of the game
But let’s all get back to comment-section reality: The Caps $ukk and GMBM should be fired immediately!
On to Detroit on Saturday night. Let’s Go Caps!
Love it dwigi – people don’t get sarcasm – horn 73
I just don’t understand why there is so much hate here. Not even going to try and justify it. Haters gonna hate.
Great puck movement in the first. Slowed down for a big chunk of the 2nd, but ramped up again in the 3rd. I was skeptical of Kuzy’s remarks about Lavy’s system, but it appears now that he was being truthful. He gained the zone consistently on the PP and has apparently been given the freedom to improvise again, thus playing to his strengths.